So I’m in the market for a ND3 pre-reg car. I could probably just stretch to a 2.0 but wondering if the 1.5 will be enough anyway. I’m signed up to whole “it’s all about fun not speed” thing, but the 1.5 is indeed slower (0-60) on paper than even my 1.4 A3 Audi and of course doesn’t do the whole turbo torque thing. I do get it that with less power you can spend more time enjoying it before you have to take your foot off the throttle, etc.
I test drove a 1.5 and at low revs (<3500 or so) it did feel rather gutless but I could tell the handling was great. At higher revs there was no ‘punch’ like I get with even the Audi, but then I suppose it’s not about that either. Problem is, in just a few miles road test, it’s difficult to judge so I’m wondering if it’s worth chasing a test drive of the 2.0…
So rather that re-open the whole 1.5 vs 2.0 debate here, can someone please point me to a good thread where this has already been discussed?
Personally, if I felt that way, I’d bypass the 1.5L, as I think it’d wind you up and you might get buyer’s remorse. Yes, ‘it’s not about that either’ (the things you compared to with you AUDI), but they are clearly things which you like and are important to you (nothing wrong with that, btw). In your shoes, and with your likes, I’d try the 2L.
I’ve had both, well 3 x 1.5 and 1 x 2.0 ND2, I’m now driving the 1.5 ND2 as the 2.0 while plenty powerful delivers it in the wrong places for my kind of driving.
Ideally try them both then think about how you want to drive them. Do you want to be able to lazily overtake on a Motorway/Dual Carriageway or do you want to drive at the upper end of the rev range (at legal speeds) on a twisty road where feedback and agility is more important?
Caveat, sheep outnumber people up here and the nearest motorway is 80 miles away.
We have gone from a 1.8 NC from 2008 to a 2.0 ND from 2019, so a little bit different to your circumstance. But for what it is worth I have to say I personally liked how the NC drove, more fun, more rev’s, etc. The 2.0 ND feels less engaging with that extra power, but it’s still fun. Roundabouts and a low gear gives you that punch and less vibey on longer runs up the motorway.
I think the only way to be sure is go test drive one, if possible on the same roads, and just go with your heart and the biggest smile. It matters not what anyone else thinks, it’s how it makes you feel.
Appreciate all the replies and, yes, of course it’s one I have to decide for myself.
And it’s not just about performance. The 1.5 will be less expensive to buy and run too though I suppose I do have the option for buying an older 2.0 with some miles on it at essentialy the same price at some point. One of the things attracting me to basically a new car I intend to keep is the opportunity to get front PPF so as not to worry/obsess so much about what seems to the infamous paint’s susceptibility to road rash - though the price of PPF seems to be on the same scale as a respray anyway! And think about underseal while everything’s new and before the first winter…
Interesting, I liked the way the NC drove as well, and the extra bit of space inside was nice as well, the only thing I didn’t like about the 1.8 NC was the engine, not as smooth as my 1.6 NB or as free revving as the 2.0 ND2.
In that case with that budget I’d then buy the 1.5L
NO way I’d be paying serious money for a second hand car, driven by who knows who, in who knows what driving style, when I could be a new/pre reg 1.5L, with no one having ever driven it
…when we changed our mk2.5 I booked a gtest drive in both the 1.5 and the 2.0. I drove the 1.5 first and loved it. (…and the demo car was the slightly heavier RF version). I almost decided not to even bother testing the 2.0, but as it was there, I thought I might s well.
After I got back from test driving the 2.0 I still opted for the 1.5, it just seemed a more fun drive, (and cheaper to insure, and (probably) better mpg.
Yes, the 1.5 does not have the “grunt”, and you do have to work the gearbox more, (particularly going up hills)…but isn’t that part of the fun??
Maybe if I was mainly doing long motorway type drives the 2.0 may be better, but then again the 1.5 will happily sit at 70+ all day if that’s your thing…
The car above was lovely in that deep crystal blue which I’d not seen in the flesh before, but it indeed shows every mark, including just fingerprints as greasy marks when a door get closed! I don’t remember even a black car I had once to be as bad as that. Decided that it would irritate the hell out of me so looking for the other colour I like, which is good 'ol Artic White which should also be an easier colour to patch up the inevitable stone chips. Problem is they seem like Rocking Horse to find as nearly new/pre-reg
I reckon, personal opinion of course, but Artic White looks much better either in the 2L Homora with black/gunmetal wheels, or the 1.5L Prime lime, ditto black wheels. And in the soft top version, with again, the black setting it off. I’m not a fan of Artic with the smoky silver wheels, even though I don’t mind those wheels themselves.
Each to their own. Not so keen on black wheels on a white car, I like the smokey wheels with any colour and, for what it’s worth, I really don’t like the MY24 ‘black machined’ wheels at all, regardless of the car colour
Personally I think the new 1.5 alloys (first two pics) in either colour look like change for the sake of change. Granted I haven’t seen them in real life yet, but that central ‘extra bit’ on each spoke seems a bit odd.
I think those new exclusive line wheels (third pic) are minging.
to find as nearly new/pre-reg 
